Canada’s Ontario Academics’ fund plans Indian funding drive

India will account for 5-10% of Ontario Academics’ Pension Plan’s (OTPP) property within the subsequent 15-20 years, because the Canadian fund appears to be like to increase investments in areas resembling infrastructure, healthcare and renewables, its CEO instructed Reuters on Tuesday.

OTPP’s present publicity to India is lower than 2% of its $240 billion in property globally.

“Our publicity to India will probably be a really vital a part of the stability sheet,” Chief Govt Jo Taylor stated in an interview in India’s monetary capital Mumbai.

The fund opened an Indian workplace in Could – its third within the Asia-Pacific area after Singapore and Hong Kong – and plans to rent 10 individuals by the top of the 12 months.

Whereas international funds and corporations have invested billions of {dollars} in recent times in Indian startups and digital firms which have grown quickly, Taylor signalled OTPP would take a special method.

“I feel the place we’ll most likely be of most worth to India is definitely having the ability to … assist with a number of the infrastructure construct out that India is trying to do,” he stated.

OTPP may also deal with sectors like healthcare and renewables, Taylor stated, increasing on latest investments the fund has made within the nation.

Though OTPP first guess on an Indian firm in 2016 through Alibaba-backed on-line retailer Snapdeal, it has made most of its Indian investments previously 12 months – together with $300 million every in conglomerate Mahindra’s renewable power property and a buyout of hospital chain Sahyadri.

Taylor stated that whereas property in India have been extra richly valued than in another international locations, expectations of quicker progress made them extra fascinating.

“What’s attention-grabbing and engaging about India is that there’s a fairly robust retail market searching for IPO alternatives and that is an enormous asset for the nation,” he stated.